February 17 - 20: New Voices in Black Cinema Festival

ActNow Foundation, in conjunction with BAMcinématek and NYC Council Member Letitia James, kicks off their programming year on February 16—20 with New Voices in Black Cinema, the second annual five-day event reflecting the wide spectrum of views and themes within the African diaspora community in Brooklyn and beyond.

A home to ActNow film screenings since August 2009, including last summer’s New York premiere of The Wonder Year, Kenneth Price’s documentary profile of Grammy Award-winning producer 9^th Wonder, BAMcinématek continues its partnership to provide exposure to new and compelling voices in Black independent cinema.

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with BAMcinématek,” says Aaron Ingram, Executive Director of ActNow Foundation. “Offering filmmakers the opportunity to present their stories in New Voices in Black Cinema and in our home borough allows us engage movie lovers from all walks of life with the diversity, inspiration, beauty, and complexity of films of the African diaspora.”

For tickets go to www.BAM.org or visit the BAMcinématek box office at 30 Lafayette St, Brooklyn, NY 11217. Call 718.636.4100 ext 1 for more details.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Click here for the 2012 Media Kit and call Curtis John at 347-274-0563 for local sponsorship and advertisement opportunities.

For press accreditation information, visit actnowproduction.org/press.

ATTENTION: Planned Parenthood Hosts Screening of Short Doc "A Vital Service"; Event Hosted by CM James and SVU Actor Tamara Tunie; 2;27; NYIT

On February 27, 2012, Planned Parenthood is hosting a screening of "A Vital Service: African American Stories of Reproductive Health". The event will be hosted by Council Member Letitia James and Law and Order: SVU's Tamara Tunie. Vital Service is a documentary short exploring reproductive health issues in the African American community.

WHEN: Monday, February 27, 2012
6:30PM- 8:30PM

WHERE: New York Institute of Technology, Auditorium
1871 Broadway (between 61st and 62nd Streets)
New York, NY

Those interested in attending must RSVP here: http://avitalservice.eventbrite.com/. The event password is "good health".

ATTENTION: Additional Screenings of Battle for Brooklyn; Documentary In Oscar Running

If you have not yet seen the much. talked. about. Battle for Brooklyn, now is your time to do so. The documentary, co-directed by Suki Hawley and Michael Galinsky and produced by David Beilinson, chronicles the seven-year long fight between the Prospect Heights community and one of the largest real estate developers in the country. It features Council Member Letitia James as well as activist Daniel Goldstein and Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn.

Upcoming Screenings:
Maysles Center, 343 Lenox Avenue (between 127 & 128 Streets), New York, NY
Dec 1, 7:30pm: Q&A with filmmakers
Dec 6, 7:30pm: Q&A with Mindy Fullilove and local community
Dec 9, 7:30pm: Q&A with Dan Goldstien

Brooklyn Heights, 70 Henry Street, Brooklyn, NY
Nov 23, 6:00pm
Nov 30, 6:00pm

Indie Screen, Williamsburg, 285 Kent Avenue at S. 2 Street, Brooklyn, NY
Nov 27, 5:00pm

The Academy recently announced that Battle for Brooklyn is one of 15 films listed for an Oscar in the Documentary Feature category. The five final nominees will be announced in January 2012.

ATTENTION: Movies With A View!

Movies With A View welcomes you to their 12th season of summer movies on Thursdays!

After each movie, join the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Junior Committee at Superfine for discounted drinks and a discussion of that week's movie. Secret code word required; more information here.

DATE: Thursdays, July 7 - September 1
TIME: 6:00pm - 11:00pm. Music at 6:00pm, movies at sunset
LOCATION: Pier 1, Harbor View Lawn

Arrive early for the best seats. Lawn capacity is limited.
No pets or chairs allowed on the lawn. No alcohol allowed in the park.

Please see website for weekly movie selection.

Moving Pictures: Damages

Film Shoot Info:
 
On Thursday April 21, 2011 (7am-3pm), the television show “Damages” is scheduled to film interior scenes at Washington Avenue between Flushing Avenue and Park Avenue.

APPROXIMATE TIME: 7am-3pm

REMINDER: Inaugural Cinema Festival Begins Black History Month

"Inaugural Festival by Brooklyn-Based Film Organization Opens Up Black History Month 2011 at BAMcinèmatek"

Read more here.

Inaugural Cinema Festival Begins Black History Month: ActNow, Council Member James & BAMcinematek

Inaugural Festival by Brooklyn-Based Film Organization Opens Up Black History Month 2011 at BAMcinèmatek

Brooklyn, NY - Fort Greene based ActNow Foundation, in conjunction with BAMcinématek and NYC Council Member Letitia James, presents a new film festival that directly reflects the wide spectrum of views and themes within the African diaspora communities in Brooklyn and beyond.

The New Voices in Black Cinema Festival is a multi-genre showcase of quality movies geared towards getting general and new audiences to appreciate Black independent film. Choosing excellence over spectacle and boldness over standard fare, this program pushes the gamut of showing how film explores Black society and provides exhibition to new voices, and existing ones.

Taking place February 4th to the 9th at BAM Rose Cinemas, this program is an extension of ActNow’s ongoing New Voices in Black Cinema screening series at BAMcinèmatek, which last summer premiered Idris Elba & Thomas Ikimi’s festival hit Legacy and in 2009 showed the stirring documentary on soul music legend Bill Withers, Still Bill. “This festival continues ActNow’s mission of giving independent filmmakers the opportunity to present their stories to audiences on a grand scale,” proclaims ActNow Executive Director Aaron Ingram. He continues, “Especially being in Brooklyn, they’ll be able to reach out to our borough’s diverse African diaspora and beyond.”

New Voices in Black Cinema features documentary films of cultural and socio-political significance like Coming Back For More (2009—Feb. 5 & 6), in which the search for reclusive soul music superstar Sly Stone takes documentary filmmaker & musician Willem Alkema on a memorable, musical journey of a lifetime. Heart of Stone (2009—screening Feb. 4 & 9), examines Newark’s Weequahic High School principal Ron Stone’s efforts in confronting the extra-violent gang problems in his school and the backlash from the once-proud Jewish alumni in what was once among the highest-rated schools in the USA and journalist Dream Hampton’s documentary Black August (2010—Feb. 4 & 6), showcases a grassroots movement’s efforts to raise awareness about political prisoners, featuring interviews with intellectuals and social activists such as Assata Shakur, as well as performances by Hip-Hop artists such as Brooklyn natives Mos Def and Talib Kweli.

The series also includes personal narrative films like Money Matters (2010—Feb. 7), award-winning filmmaker Ryan Richmond’s portrayal of a single mother and her teenage daughter, as well as Tanya Hamilton’s Night Catches Us (2010—Feb. 4 & 7)—named one of the Best First Features in The Village Voice 2010 Film Critics’ Poll—starring Anthony Mackie and Kerry Washington, about a former member of the Black Power movement returning home. Robert Heath’s SUS (2010—Feb. 4 & 7) a “sharply written, beautifully acted, and devastating critique of institutional racism,” (David Edwards, Daily Mirror) set entirely in a British interrogation room on election night in 1979, centers on two bigoted cops attempting to pin a murder on a man, played by Clint Dyer, who also produced.

The festival concludes on Feb. 9 with the ‘Brooklyn Block’ showcase of short films from local filmmakers, as well as a screening of Wendell B. Harris’ newly-restored Chameleon Street (1990—Feb. 9), inaugurating ActNow’s New Black Classics series. This race-examining satire based on the life of William Douglas Street, Jr.—played by the director himself—a Detroit con artist who successfully impersonated numerous professionals, became the first black film ever awarded Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize in 1990.

For more information about the New Voices in Black Cinema Film Festival, please contact Curtis John at curtis@actnowproduction.org or Donnet Bruce at donnet@actnowproduction.org or (347) 274-0563 and go to www.ActNowproduction.org. The contact for Council Member Letitia James is Amyre Loomis at aloomis@council.nyc.gov, (718) 260-9191.

For press and more information on BAMcinèmatek , please contact:
Gabriele Caroti at 718.724.8024 / gcaroti@bam.org
Matthew Yeager at 718.636.4129x1 / myeager@bam.org
----------

New Voices in Black Cinema schedule
Q&As with filmmakers at select screenings
Friday, February 4
2pm: Heart of Stone
4:30pm: SUS
6:50pm: Night Catches Us
9:30pm: Black August
Saturday, February 5
6:50pm: I Will Follow
9:30pm: Coming Back for More
Sunday, February 6
6:50pm: Coming Back for More
9:15pm: Black August
Monday, February 7
4:30pm: Night Catches Us
6:50pm: Money Matters
9:30pm: SUS
Wednesday, February 9
4:30pm: Heart of Stone
7pm: Brooklyn Block shorts
9:30pm: Chameleon Street

Website: www.actnowproduction.org
Blog: actnowfoundationfilmandtheater.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ActNowFoundation
Twitter: twitter.com/actnowfilmstage

General Information
BAM Rose Cinemas is located in the Peter Jay Sharp building at 30 Lafayette Avenue (between St Felix Street and Ashland Place).
Subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, Q, B to Atlantic Avenue;
D, M, N, R to Pacific Street; G to Fulton Street; C to Lafayette Avenue
Train: Long Island Railroad to Flatbush Avenue
Bus: B25, B26, B41, B45, B52, B63, B67 all stop within three blocks of BAM
Car: Commercial parking lots are located adjacent to BAM
For ticket and BAMbus information, call BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100, or visit BAM.org.
For ticket information, call BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100, or visit BAM.org.

Moving Pictures: Traveling As An Excuse To Eat Stuff

From Friday, January 7th, to Sunday, January 9th, a commercial for "The Travel Channel" is scheduled to film interior scenes at 470 Flushing Avenue between Spencer Street and Walworth Street.

APPROXIMATE TIME: 6am-7pm

Media Coverage of the War in Afghanistan– featuring a pre-panel screening of the documentary RESTREPO

Center for Communications, Kumble Theater and the Journalism Department– LIU, Brooklyn Campus present:

Media Coverage of the War in Afghanistan– featuring a pre-panel screening of the documentary RESTREPO

Thursday • SEPTEMBER 30 • 5:30PM to 8:30PM
LIU Brooklyn Campus
Kumble Theatre for the Performing Arts
Flatbush Avenue (Dekalb and Willoughby)

The post-screening panel discussion includes- Mark Mazzetti¸ correspondent, The New York Times; Noah Shachtman, contributing editor, Wired; Sebastian Junger, author, War: A Perfect Storm; co-director, Restrepo; and moderator Deborah Amos, Middle East correspondent, NPR.

Tickets: Free admission – RSVP: http://www.cencom.org/, info@cencom.org, and 212.686.5005

Social Media Workshop And Willifest Info

Join the Cutting Edge in Downtown Brooklyn...

Learn About Social Media and How to Market your Message

WHEN: Wednesday,
September 22nd
7:00 pm

WHERE: Kumble Theater, Long Island University- Brooklyn Campus
One University Plaza
Brooklyn, NY

This is a free interactive workshop designed for filmmakers and other various artists seeking to learn effective marketing strategies using current social media for every product or service.

WILLiFEST was established to provide a platform for the creative visions of today's emerging artists in the areas of film and music, and to celebrate the vibrant cultural scene of the Williamsburg and North Brooklyn neighborhoods. In addition to live musical performances throughout the area, WILLiFEST will feature The Williamsburg International Film Festival.

CM James Hosts Act Now film "LEGACY" at BAM; 8/27

Act Now Foundation, Council Member Letitia James, and BAMCinematek Present: LEGACY starring Idris Elba, this Friday, August 27th. Times are 2pm, 4:30pm, 6:50pm and 9:30pm.

This is the BIGGEST endeavor yet for ActNow: New Voices In Black Cinema! Come out and support the best in Black film-making this Friday at BAM and see an amazing independent film starring the talented Idris Elba!

After the 6:50pm screening, come and meet the director of Legacy- Thomas Ikimi in a Q&A conducted by Shadow & Act's own Tambay Obenson. The director will be in attendance at all 4 showtimes.

Get your tickets in advance by going to BAM's website.

Moving Pictures: Media Edition

On Wednesday, August 11, 2010, a commercial for “WABC Eyewitness News” is scheduled to film exterior scenes at the following locations:

· Lafayette Avenue between S. Portland Avenue and S. Elliot Place
· S. Oxford Street between Lafayette Avenue and DeKalb Avenue

APPROXIMATE TIME: 7am-7pm

Moving Pictures: And The Aqua Teen Hunger Force Fanbase

On Thursday, July 29, and Friday, July 30, 2010, the television programming block “Adult Swim” is scheduled to film interior scenes at 483 Washington Avenue between Fulton Street and Gates Street.

APPROXIMATE TIME: 8:30am-10:30pm

Moving Pictures: Bringing Various Crime Dramedies To You

On Saturday, July 24 and Friday, July 25, 2010 a commercial for “USA Networks” is scheduled to film interior and exterior scenes on Ashland Place between Lafayette Avenue and Hanson Place.

APPROXIMATE TIME: 2pm-9pm (7/24)

11am-7pm (7/25)

Moving Pictures: Our Idiot Brother

On Friday July 23, 2010 the feature film “My Idiot Brother” is scheduled to film interior scenes at 470 Flushing Avenue between Spencer Street and Walworth Street.

APPROXIMATE TIME: 12pm-6am

Moving Pictures: Without or Without You

On Wednesday, July 21, 2010, a feature film production of “My Last Day Without You” will be shooting exterior scenes at 88 Hanson Place between South Portland Avenue & South Oxford Street.

APPROXIMATE TIME: 6am – 10pm.

Moving Pictures: The One Where Mel Gibson Is The Beaver Puppet

On Wednesday, July 7, 2010 and Thursday, July 8, 2010, the Mel Gibson film “THE BEAVER” is scheduled to film interior scenes at Kumble Theater for the Performing Arts, Long Island University at One University Plaza at Flatbush Avenue (Fleet Street). If you see a depressed toy company owner walking around with a beaver puppet trying to communicate with Jodie Foster, that's probably Mel Gibson. Seriously.

Approximate Time: 8am– 11pm

Moving Pictures: Greed Is Good

From Monday, June 28th to Wednesday, June 30th,
and from Wednesday, July 14th to Friday, July 16th,
and from Monday, July 19th to Friday July 23rd, 2010,
the “Cooking Channel” is scheduled to film interior scenes at Flushing Avenue between Spencer Street and Walworth Street.


APPROXIMATE TIME: 7am-9pm

____________________

And speaking of nom noms, the NYT-Local reports that "Pierre Thiam, owner of the Brooklyn restaurants Yolele and Le Grand Dakar, competed against Bobby Flay in Battle: Papaya on Iron Chef America, which aired Sunday." Bobby Flay is basically the most handsome and awesome chef ever, and he should receive a Golden Globe or something for his work on Throwdown. Congrats, Pierre.

Moving Pictures: Thinks You're Stubborn

On Thursday, July 1st & 2nd, 2010 a the HBO television production of “Mildred Pierce” will be de-rigging at Washington Avenue between Greene Avenue & Lafayette Avenue.


APPROXIMATE TIMES: 6am – 8pm

Moving Pictures: May Or May Not Call Matt Bomer

On Thursday, June 24, 2010, the television show “WHITE COLLAR” returns to steal our hearts and shoot interior and exterior scenes at Cambridge Place between Gates Avenue and Fulton Street.

Approximate Time: 11am – 1am

On Friday, June 25, 2010 the television show “White Collar” is scheduled to film interior and exterior scenes at Cambridge Place between Gates Avenue and Fulton Street.

APPROXIMATE TIME: 5pm-1am